Covered folding frame



c. R. KOSITZK Y.

COVERED ,FOLDING FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 8, I920- I 1,422,450. I I Patented July 11, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. C. R. KOSITZKY. COVERED FOLDING FRAME. APPLICATION FILED NOV- 8, I920.

Patented July 1], 1922.

v awmmtoz & Jiwz'izizg 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

REF-E.

COVERED FOLDING FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1 1, me.

Application filed November 8, 1920. Serial No. 422,727.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL R. Kosi'rZKY, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Bismarck, in the county of Burleigh and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cov ered Folding Frames; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its principal object to provide a simply constructed andinexpensive device consisting of a folding frame and a flexible sheet secured to two of the side bars thereof so that said frame serves to hold said sheet in extended position to permit it to be used for various purposes.

A further object is to so construct the frame as to permit it to fold compactly.

Yet another object is to provide novel means for securing the hinged spacing bars for the side bars, in operative position.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention resides in the novel fea tures of construction and unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and in which Figurel is a perspective view of the device constructed principally for use as a game board, showing the same extended for use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device partly extended;

Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the device completely extended, parts being broken away and in section; and,

Fig. i is a side elevation showing the frame in partly folded position;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing all parts in readiness for winding the flexible sheet around the folded frame;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the sheet wound around the frame;

Fig. 7 is an end View of Fig. (3; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numerals'l and 2 have reference to a pair of parallel side bars to which two opposite edges of a flexible sheet 3 are secured. spacing bars 1 and 5 being provided to extend between the bars land 2 so as to hold them in spaced relation to stretch the sheet The bar 1 is hinged at 6' to a block 7 secured to the inner side of bar 1, near one end of the latter, said bar i extending beyond the hinge for Contact with the outer end of said block and with said bar 1. The end of bar 4 remote from the hinge 6, is formed with a tenon 8 for reception in a mortise 9 which opens through the opposite sides and through one end of the side bar 2.

One end of the bar 5 is received in a right angular notch 10 formed in the inner side of the bar 1, at the end thereof remote from the block 7, said bars 5 and 1 being hinged together at 11 so that the former may fold inwardly, in which position its free end will be positioned adjacent the block 7 as shown in Fig. 4. When the mortise 9 and tenon 8 are now disengaged, bar 4: may fold inwardly into contact with the other spacing bar 5, whereupon the sheet 3 may be rolled around the three bars 1, 4: and 5, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7.

An inwardly bowed spring 12 is inset in the inner side of the bar 2 and is secured at its inner end to said bar, the outer end of said spring being extended laterally at 13 to form a stop to limit the outward swinging of bar 5, the outer side of said bar being formed with a notch 14 to receive said stop therein. The spring 12 serves as an effective means for holding the bar 5 frictionally in operative position, but in most cases it is desirable to project the bolt 15 carried by said bar, through an opening 16 in the spring so that there will be no possibility of said bar 5 being accidentally swung inwardly.

The sheet 3 may be constructed of any preferred material, according to the use to which the device is to be put and it will be obvious that the frame may Well be constructed in various sizes. The device, when folded, may be carried in a grip or suitcase if covered with cloth or the like and used a game board for playing cards, checkers, chess, etc. Figure 1 illustrates a checker board painted or otherwise formed on the sheet 3.

The device may well be used as a temporary table upon which to serve refreshments on picnics and the like and may also be used for numerous other purposes. For

instance, the sheet 1 could be made of screenwire so that the device could be employed as a window screen, or for a checker board, or for the purpose of screening sand, in short, I do not wish to limit the use of my invention to any particular field since it is obvious that it is applicable for a vast number of purposes. The particular construction shown and described constitutes the preferred form of the devicebut I wish it understood that within the scope of the iiivention as claimed, numerous minor changes may be made without sacrificing the principal advantages.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described. com-- prising a pair of parallel side bars, a flexible sheet secured at two opposite edges to said bars, one end of one of said bars having a notch in its inner side, a block secured to said inner side of said one bar and spaced inwardly froin the other end thereof, the

'other bar having a mortise in the end thereof opposite said block, a pair of spacing bars hinged respectively to the outer end of said block and in said notch, said spacing bars being adapted to extend between and space the side bars to stretch said sheet, the free end of one of said spacing bars having a tenon for reception in said mortise, and means for maintaining the free end of the other spacing bar inoperative relation with the adjacent side bar.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pair of side bars, a flexible sheet secured. at two opposite edges thereto, a pair of spacing bars hinged to one of said side bars and adapted to extend between and to abut said side bars to space the same and stretch said sheet, 1116:1118 for holding one of said spacing bars in operative relation with one end of the other sidebar, and an in wai'dl bowed spring anchored at one end to the other end of said other side bar, said spring having its free outer end bent laterally to form a stop for the other spacing bar,

said spring being adapted to frictionally bind against the last-nained bar end.

A structure as specified in claim 2, said spring having an openin and a bolt mounted on said upper spacing bar for re ception in said opening when the same is extended. M

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL R. 'KOSITZKY. 

